JOHANNESBURG- South Africa has dropped in rankings on the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International.
Corruption Watch has expressed concern of what they call a dubious ranking system, Phemelo Khaas said,
“This is of particular concern given that the CPI just released reflects the outcome of surveys conducted in 2016, prior to the dismissal (for the second time) of former finance minister Pravin Gordhan, action relating to the Public Protector’s October 2016 State of Capture report, and the daily scandals and revelations of grand corruption that characterized 2017,”
“This year, the index found that more than two thirds of countries score below 50, and in this context, South Africa continues to be in the company of those countries in the world considered to have a serious corruption problem,”
“As indicated above, the real spiral in the country began at the end of 2016, the year in which the survey was completed, when there was a marked escalation in revealing corruption, primarily through a robust civil society and media.
“The increased exposure of corrupt activities can be attributed to a more vocal and active citizenry, but despite these mounting calls for accountability, the lack of prosecution remains a major obstacle in the fight against corruption,”
“South Africa is ranked ninth in relation to other sub-Saharan African countries, and this year was overtaken by Senegal. Once again, Botswana topped the charts and the only newcomer in the top 10 this year is the Seychelles, with Ghana having conceded its position.”
Khaas has expressed that the ranking system has its flaws but shows that a sound financial and judicial institutions can protect the country against corruption.
Photo credit- enca
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